From 1988–1999, ABR, Inc., conducted avian
studies for ARCO Alaska, Inc., in the Kuparuk
Oilfield on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska. In
2000–2009, we continued this work under the new
operator of the Kuparuk Oilfield, ConocoPhillips
Alaska, Inc. (formerly PHILLIPS Alaska, Inc.).
The emphasis of this study in recent years has been
long-term monitoring of the distribution,
abundance, and productivity of selected waterfowl
populations. Our studies in 2009 focused on three
species: Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri),
Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus), and Brant
(Branta bernicla). This report summarizes the results of surveys
in 2009 for these species. Unlike annual reports
prior to 2005, this data report briefly summarizes
objectives and annual survey results for each
species, including supporting tables and figures,
but without further analysis or historical context Brief methods are provided for the surveys
conducted in 2009 (Appendix 1). The reader is
referred to presentation of detailed methodologies,
analysis, and discussion of results in the 2003 and
2004 annual reports (Anderson et al. 2004, 2005).
